By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
WICHITA, Kan. – In the final game of the series against Newman University on Tuesday evening (April 9), the Fort Hays State baseball team faced defeat, falling 12-5. The Tigers (21-17, 9-15 MIAA) found themselves in an early deficit after a three-run inning from the Jets (10-29, 6-18 MIAA).
However, the Tigers wasted no time in responding. In the top half of the second, Luis Ayala’s single drove in a run, showing the team’s resilience. Tiger starter Tanner Vaughn retired the side in order in the second but faced challenges in the third, leading to his replacement by Spencer Maley. Vaughn’s outing lasted 2.2 innings, where he surrendered seven hits and struck out a batter.
A hit-by-pitch on Brady Kreutzer followed by Zane Knox’s double put two Tigers on base with no outs. Trey DeGarmo’s groundout managed to score Kreutzer from third, and Ayala’s subsequent groundout earned him his second RBI of the game, bringing the score to 5-3.
The fifth inning mirrored the fourth, with Isaiah Ural’s walk setting the stage for Elliott Herrman’s RBI double. Kreutzer capitalized on an error, scoring Herrmann.
Unfortunately, the sixth inning proved challenging for the Tigers, with the Jets scoring five runs on three hits. The Jets added two more runs in the seventh, solidifying their lead at 12-5.
The Tigers ended with six hits while walking three times. The two extra-base hits came from Herrmann and Knox.
Fort Hays State baseball will head to Topeka, Kan. to face off against the ranked Ichabods. The first contest is set for 5 p.m. on Friday (April 12).